Press Release: Environment: Commission welcomes final political agreement on LIFE+

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the final political agreement reached on 27 March 2007 by the Council and the European Parliament on the new ‘LIFE+’ Financial Instrument for the Environment. The overall budget foreseen for LIFE+ is just under €1.9 billion for the period 2007-2013 (in 2004 prices), i.e. very close to the amount initially proposed by the Commission. 78% of the budget is dedicated to project action grants and at least 50% of this has been reserved for spending on the "nature and biodiversity" part of the Programme.